Homeless mums in crisis: Kaz's story of survival

In a recent report, Gold Coast project Lifehouse revealed that each year more than 200 young mums and their kids are out on the streets, homeless, sleeping in sheds, on couches, in caravans. Tonight there are likely 50 sleeping rough in Gold Coast suburbs.

There's a shortage of crisis accommodation for young mums and their kids on the Gold Coast.

But a special case was made for Kaz O'Donnell and her babies. This is her story of crisis and redemption.

Sudden death

Kaz is luminous as she tinkles a spoon in cups of tea and waves to comfy seats to hear her deeper - intimate - narrative to come.

When she talks you want to listen, even as her eyes burn.

Listen to Kaz lucidly describe her journey - click on the audio links under the photo gallery.

Her story begins three weeks after Kaz gave birth to her second little girl.

The catalyst for her spiralling crisis arrived with the unexpected death of her mum, a single parent who for years had secretly battled anorexia, bulimia and ensuing health issues.

"I ended up not taking it too well," she declares with self-effaceable poise.

With a toddler and newborn, it fell to Kaz to arrange and pay for her mum's funeral.

"It didn't hit me until about a week after she passed away," she says.

"I was heavily addicted to marijuana at the time.

"I really wanted to escape the pain. So I went on a bender - took every drug I could find for two days."

Breaking the cycle

On day three Kaz woke up in hospital.

After an argument Kaz tried to stop her boyfriend from driving away under the influence. He hit her with the car by accident she says but Police placed a restraining order on him.

Kaz was suddenly very alone, coming down off the drugs, in a lot of discomfort from lactating and unable to see her kids.

The choice was given to her - go into rehab or to a women's refuge. Neither place could provide accommodation for mums with children. In her mum's honour, Kaz decided to go to the women's refuge for the long-term support.

"That was the turning point for me," says Kaz.

"It was at the point that I realised I was much like my mum...and I had a choice whether to go down the same road or turn it around for my girls."

Kaz was there for five months without her babies. Diagnosed with postnatal depression, she used the time to grieve for her mum, to think, get clean and rest.

"It was exactly what I needed at the time."

She grabbed the programs and intensive counselling with both arms and seeing her commitment, the Salvation Army moved staff out of a room and specially repurposed it so that her girls could move in.

Women in refuge

Kaz and her kids lived with 16 other women for a year.

Some shined and sadly some weren't prepared for the changes.

"I think in this kind of community on the Gold Coast it's hard, there's a lot of strain on families already," she says compassionately.

A little pain darkens her face.

"I think a lot of mums feel shame, they're so overwhelmed with their problems they're going through they're afraid of asking for help.

"A lot of the time they are in crisis, they are trying to juggle so many things at that point, it's so overwhelming.

"I do wish there had been something for my mum, maybe she would still be alive today."

Nightstop

Growing up, Kaz and her sister went through close to 30 foster homes; there were many times when they were homeless.

Kaz reminisces with an incongruous smile: "Living in a cave and catching fish and cooking them in wine cask wrappers on a fire."

She says with ardour that any help is needed, but hesitates about the challenges of taking in a mum and kids in crisis.

"It can be such a stressful time...but it's better to be with people who care than be in a car alone."

"There are some amazing families out there who would give their hearts, I would love to see something more like that happen...there's such a big need."

Or phone 1800 47 47 53. Calls are toll-free within Australia, however mobile phones are charged at the applicable rate.

Lifehouse projects

The Girls With A Purpose and AMIRA projects run by Lifehouse work with young women on relationship and sexual health life skills, including the ability to protect themselves against unplanned pregnancy.

www.theamiraproject.com

www.lifehouse.org.au

Salvation Army

Still Waters offer immediate temporay supported accommodation for women 18 + and mothers with accompaning children (up to 12 years old).